St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-07-30
AMONG THE DIooERs.
Sketches Taken IN the Camp OF IN o.
ocufo Tribe Of Indiana

Ocure Tribe 0f lndians.
Few people know that the Diggers,
who live in Pleasant Valley. and are
known as the Pamblos, have . musical
man among them. This Digger is
known a. Bob He is a really good
performer on the guitar. flute, fife, vio-
lin. organ and harmonica. He has
played for several "pale face I"
dances, and handles . violin like a
master.
He is pure -blooded Digger. and. 50
far as he knows, none Of his ancestors
were musically inclined.
The ''tribe" also boasts Of having a
ce ntenarian. an old squaw. whose hair
is white rs snow. whose daughter ID
seventy-five years old, and whose only
English ejaculation is Gimme two
bits"
Captain Pamblos is short, wiry old
fellow. He is about fifty years of age.
and is one Of the most inveterate hunt
ers in the country. His unerring aim
has laid down many jackass rabbit,
and humbled to the dust many proud
woodpecker. The reason is this:
Whenever they have dance. or. as
they call it. "a big soup. they rig them.
selves out as Enthusiastically as possible.
Every buck who wishes to dance must
buy q ticket. paying for it in good solid
American silver.
As ticket the scalp of the wood
pecker recommends itself. 1t is gaudy
and conspicuous. The tail feathers
Of the yellow-hammer are also used
for the same purpose. two feathers be.
ing fastened to little stick which ID
worn in the hair or carried in the
hand. These ''big-soups" are frequent.
A Digger will work hard for week or
two when the acorns are ripe and lay
in . supply Of them for winter. Then
he will notify some other tribe. and
all his relations back to the tenth gen.
Grafton will come to see him and help
him devOur the whole lot. Then they
invite the family of the host to their
''campooda," and so the visiting and
"big souping" goes on till all the rela-
tions have visited each other and there
are no more acorns to devOur.
The Digger is q child Of nature. and
he cares little for the fashionable fol-
lies of the world. Some of them are
noted for their wicked ways. and one
Of the Pamhlos. hard case known a.
''Scar-Face Dick" or Dick Tomale, has
been a holy terror among his people
for many years. Several efforts have
been made to kill him by his tribe and
the Nevada City Indians. but all have
failed. He is the most intelligent Dig
ger Of them all, and will discuss any
subject not ignoring religious mat
ters. But his favorite topic is spiritu-
alism. His arguments are often full
of dry, sarcastic humor. This dry
humor is part Of the average Digger's
disposition. Captain Pamblos was
once passing a house where young
lady was singing vigorously. He
paused and listened. Then turning to
a boy who was playing near he said.
gravely: "Why for she cly?" Dick |
TOmale once listened gravely to sew
eral young men and women who were
ghosts. At last he inter- |
rupted them. and in his drawing way |
said: "Ya-ss. believe in ghosts, too.
met . ghost one night. I wasn't ex-
actly full, but had some wine. 1t
was dark. and ! saw big, white ghost
get up out of the ground and stand in
front of me. hauled OF and hit il
with my fist you bet"
well. said . listener. 'what was
ita"
Dick looked around mysteriously,
picked up his rife. spat at fly on his
sleeve. and 40 he moved of with a
light and cunning air, said in a loud
whisper: ''lt was a rock. ."-NerGdo
CITY Herald.